Meet Trailblazer Lisa Higdon

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Higdon.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
What I like to call my journey started in early 2016. My husband had been suffering from allergies and skin conditions ever since he returned from Iraq in the early 2000s. His condition got progressively worse and worse. Dermatologists prescribed OTC medications that didn’t work and creams that didn’t work. Truthfully, it became painful to watch him suffer. I decided we needed to make some changes. I researched eczema and skin conditions, we changed our eating habits, didn’t help. We changed our bar soaps and shampoo didn’t help. In the midst of all this, I thought maybe it was our detergent and fabric softeners. I read that they were loaded with toxic chemicals. I decided it was time to come up with an alternative. I tried a couple of recipes I found online, they didn’t’ work. I decided to try and formulate my own recipe. I researched ingredients and chose the ingredients I wanted to use in my laundry soap. I decided only to use natural ingredients, nothing harsh or synthetic. It took some time but I finally found a recipe that actually worked. My husband’s condition had improved by using my laundry soap, it actually worked for him!!! I asked my friends to test the laundry soap for me as well. Each one came back with a resounding YES, it works. It cleans and leaves the clothing soft. YAY for me. Finally! They encouraged me to start making the soap in bulk and sell it. It had helped some of the family members who were sensitive as well. That’s when Simple Suds and Stuff was born.
When the laundry soap worked, I needed to find an alternative to fabric softeners, what’s laundry soap without a softener, right?! It didn’t take long to find alpaca dryer balls. I bought a few and tried them myself, that’s when I knew I had to have them as well. I call my laundry soap and dryer balls, peas and carrots; you can’t have one without the other.

Natural is the way to go for us. I had no idea, at that time how our lives would change and evolve.

Has it been a smooth road?
I had just turned 50 years old and I had worked in corporate America for more years than I’d like to admit, I was so tired of the bureaucracy, it was time to make a change. I had already been selling my laundry soap and dryer balls for a few months and the business was starting to take off. I found there just wasn’t enough time in the day to work a full-time job and work at my craft. I approached my husband with the crazy idea to quit my job and pursue growing my business full time, much to my surprise, he was totally onboard. I was thrilled and that’s exactly what I did.

I didn’t want to take out a loan from a bank; I didn’t want to owe anyone. I also didn’t know if this endeavor would really take off. I took a couple of thousand dollars from our savings account and invested that money into raw materials and just things I was going to need to get really cooking and building my business. Thankfully, I was able to place that money I borrowed back into our savings account within a year’s time.

I would say to any woman considering opening up a business, if you have the dream, the drive and the idea for a business, GO FOR IT. You are the only one that can hold yourself back. I never would have guessed at 50 years old that I would be starting a business but I am so thankful I did.

We’d love to hear more about Simple Suds and Stuff.
I am a handcrafter, I love to let my creative juices flow, I’ve recently begun to create bath soaps. I taught myself how to make soaps and I totally enjoy it, to me I find it therapeutic.

I specialize in creating cleaning products with the most natural ingredients available. I want to remove hazardous chemicals from my life and my customer’s lives as well as helping in not poisoning our precious Earth. I am also adamant about using reusable and recyclable materials. I am proud to offer my customers “clean” products, they know when they buy from me, they can trust that I have their best interests and the interests of their family in mind. I will not skimp on any natural ingredients; I will never use the cheaper, synthetic alternatives.

Do you feel like there was something about the experiences you had growing up that played an outsized role in setting you up for success later in life?
My parents were very hard working people. They worked hard for everything we had and I saw their struggle for many years first hand. The work ethic they both possessed was ingrained in me. I’ve worked hard since the day after I graduated high school. I never went to college. I work tirelessly now because of my parents.

Contact Info:

• Website: simplesudsandstuff.com
• Phone: 732-266-0378
• Email: lisa higdon
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simple.suds.and.stuff/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SimpleSudsandStuff/
• Other: simplesudsandstuff@yahoo.com

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